Renowned Historian Irfan Habib in his address at a convention organized by agitating intellectuals, miffed over the increasing religious intolerance. The writer during the speech compared Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with a terror group ISIS. He has also equated the outfit of right wing with that of Islamic State group.
The quote “Intellectually, there is not much difference between RSS and ISIS”, has prompted a new controversy in the on-going debate across the nation. Habib purported that Central Government is making a foreground for ideologically affiliated group to create terror. The intellectual also named Modi management to be more communal that the former NDA Rule under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
There are number of Writers, Historians, Poets and Filmmakers are already protesting against escalating intolerance across the country, since the Modi government came into power.
However, taking strong exception to the comment made by Irfan Habib, several intellectuals and journalists ridiculed Habib for his oblivious evaluation, through a social media platform. Here are some of the tweets which followed:
There's much to question on RSS ideology. But comparing with ISIS is ridiculous. In fact, this is just how liberal case is trivialised, lost
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) November 1, 2015
If Irfan Habib believes there is no difference between the RSS and ISIS it is time for him to give up writing history.
— Tavleen Singh (@tavleen_singh) November 2, 2015
This is what ISIS does to scholars.
Irfan Habib shud check to C if he's alive & equate RSS & ISIS only if he is not pic.twitter.com/TBef72WDp0— Thought Gun (@ShootinThoughts) November 2, 2015
If RSS would have been anything like ISIS Irfan Habib would have been slaughtered by now in the holy name of God. https://t.co/O7COGp7RAN
— Dhaarmic ?? Tweeter (@PMuvacha) November 2, 2015
Dear Irfan Habib, RSS is not ISIS. RSS doesn't slit throats and ISIS doesn't use a proxy to run it's empire.
— Rafale Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) November 2, 2015
Irfan Habib, historian known for his erudite leftist elegance and fighting Right Wing Islamists at AMU, is now busy overdoing his stuff
— Madhavan Narayanan (@madversity) November 2, 2015